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Hi all,My migraines began when i was about 8 years old. At that time my doctor stated it was my stress. They eventually went away and did not return till February 17 th of 2012. They hit with vertigo and a huge headache. Since then my doctors have tried many triptans, they dont work on me. I have migraine without aura and my symptoms are always the same. Head pain all day every day, dizziness, nauseated and confusion. My neurologist recommended for me to see a pain management doctor to control them. The pain management doctor recommended Botox and i have already had two treatments. They are not working well alone, the doctor gave me Calen and gabapentin to work with the botox. I feel my doctors have tried so many meds and i still continue with daily pain. At the most i have 2 days a week without pain. I have now had a headache for 10 days and my regular meds for pain arent helping, which is Benadryl. Usually it works and i can manage my life. But these past 10 days have not been good. Any suggestions on what my next step should be? I'm frustated and dont know where to go from here. I cant go see a headache specialist, its too far. What more should i do?

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6 Replies |Watch This Discussion | Report This| Share this:feeling frustratedHi all,My migraines began when i was about 8 years old. At that time my doctor stated it was my stress. They eventually went away and did not return till February 17 th of 2012. They hit with vertigo and a huge headache. Since then my doctors have tried many triptans, they dont work on me. I have migraine without aura and my symptoms are always the same. Head pain all day every day, dizziness, nauseated and confusion. My neurologist recommended for me to see a pain management doctor to control them. The pain management doctor recommended Botox and i have already had two treatments. They are not working well alone, the doctor gave me Calen and gabapentin to work with the botox. I feel my doctors have tried so many meds and i still continue with daily pain. At the most i have 2 days a week without pain. I have now had a headache for 10 days and my regular meds for pain arent helping, which is Benadryl. Usually it works and i can manage my life. But these past 10 days have not been good. Any suggestions on what my next step should be? I'm frustated and dont know where to go from here. I cant go see a headache specialist, its too far. What more should i do?

I tried 3-4 triptans until I found one that worked for me. So you may have to go down the list, trying different ones. Just ask your doctor for samples, because you don't want to pay an arm and a leg for something that may not work.

Benadryl never really helped me either. Just knocked me out. Which is not a bad thing, necessarily, just didn't get rid of the headaches.

Have you tried preventatives like Topamax, Elavil, beta blockers, and such? Or supplements like magnesium oxide, riboflavin, butterbur, etc.?

If you have tried all of these things, then maybe work from the other end and try to prevent the migraines before they happen by identifying triggers. Food triggers, scent triggers, It's not easy, but keeping a food diary can help to identify foods to avoid and that can lessen the frequency and/or duration of headaches.

Good luck to you. I hope that others may have some more or better advice.

I tried 3-4 triptans until I found one that worked for me. So you may have to go down the list, trying different ones. Just ask your doctor for samples, because you don't want to pay an arm and a leg for something that may not work.

Benadryl never really helped me either. Just knocked me out. Which is not a bad thing, necessarily, just didn't get rid of the headaches.

Have you tried preventatives like Topamax, Elavil, beta blockers, and such? Or supplements like magnesium oxide, riboflavin, butterbur, etc.?

If you have tried all of these things, then maybe work from the other end and try to prevent the migraines before they happen by identifying triggers. Food triggers, scent triggers, It's not easy, but keeping a food diary can help to identify foods to avoid and that can lessen the frequency and/or duration of headaches.

Good luck to you. I hope that others may have some more or better advice.

Consider the weather. I have advance notice of ANY change in weather.\two days before it rains, I get a headache. I do take a beta blocker, propananol.. Have been to the Jefferson Headache clinic. They have tried Cymbalta. The side affects were worse than the drug and it didn't really help.I go to sleep every night with an "ice pack". That does help. . have had migraines for 50 years, take Imitrex or Amerage, depending on the severity.. I inject myself with imitrex when the headaches are most severe. I do take narcotics when needed just to sleep it off. Of course chocolate, nuts and spicy foods are out. I do take but/apap/caff and cod 50 fairly regularily. That helps if I take it before I go to sleep so I don't wake up with a headache. I do try to take these meds as little as possible abut living in a humid climate doesn't help.

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Report This| Share this:feeling frustratedConsider the weather. I have advance notice of ANY change in weather.\two days before it rains, I get a headache. I do take a beta blocker, propananol.. Have been to the Jefferson Headache clinic. They have tried Cymbalta. The side affects were worse than the drug and it didn't really help.I go to sleep every night with an "ice pack". That does help. . have had migraines for 50 years, take Imitrex or Amerage, depending on the severity.. I inject myself with imitrex when the headaches are most severe. I do take narcotics when needed just to sleep it off. Of course chocolate, nuts and spicy foods are out. I do take but/apap/caff and cod 50 fairly regularily. That helps if I take it before I go to sleep so I don't wake up with a headache. I do try to take these meds as little as possible abut living in a humid climate doesn't help.

Have you ever tried Maxalt MLT tabs ? These are the only thing I found that get rid of my migraines whether they are just starting or when I get awakened by a full blown one, usually within an hour, if FB can take up to 2hrs. This is taken with 2 dbl esp's and using ice packs.

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Report This| Share this:feeling frustratedHave you ever tried Maxalt MLT tabs ? These are the only thing I found that get rid of my migraines whether they are just starting or when I get awakened by a full blown one, usually within an hour, if FB can take up to 2hrs. This is taken with 2 dbl esp's and using ice packs.

Have you tried Maxalt MLT tabs ? Read my reply to photographygk123 below. If you haven't you should try them, they are the only thing that has worked for me taken w 2 dbl esp's and ice packs. My triggers are Diesel exhaust, burning brake shoes, stress and alcohol. My heart goes out to you, mine tend to come in batches of 2-3 days in a row, and my reg. Dr is cutting me back to only 18 tabs per month cause he thinks I have respiratory issues so I am trying to get thru them with just Ibu's and the esp's and IP's so I have a backup of them, unless they have 'em, nobody knows the hell we go thru. He sells the box of 18 tabs to me at a very low cost-$50-they are still very expensive otherwise, so I have no choice but to put up with him. Hope you find something that will help you !

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Report This| Share this:feeling frustratedHave you tried Maxalt MLT tabs ? Read my reply to photographygk123 below. If you haven't you should try them, they are the only thing that has worked for me taken w 2 dbl esp's and ice packs. My triggers are Diesel exhaust, burning brake shoes, stress and alcohol. My heart goes out to you, mine tend to come in batches of 2-3 days in a row, and my reg. Dr is cutting me back to only 18 tabs per month cause he thinks I have respiratory issues so I am trying to get thru them with just Ibu's and the esp's and IP's so I have a backup of them, unless they have 'em, nobody knows the hell we go thru. He sells the box of 18 tabs to me at a very low cost-$50-they are still very expensive otherwise, so I have no choice but to put up with him. Hope you find something that will help you !

I forgot my computer being another migraine trigger if I'm on it much more than an hour. Has anyone out there heard of a way around this trigger ? I already have the brightness turned all the way down but can still get them the next day. Good Luck to all of us in finding ways to cope !

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Report This| Share this:feeling frustratedI forgot my computer being another migraine trigger if I'm on it much more than an hour. Has anyone out there heard of a way around this trigger ? I already have the brightness turned all the way down but can still get them the next day. Good Luck to all of us in finding ways to cope !

Since my last post, i went an saw a new doctor. I was hoping for some new meds that actually work. But instead got told I probably have lupus. He stated that since the normal meds for migraine do not work and i get a headached everyday that its possibly more than a migraine. I went to the specialist and he did some work up and basically told me the same thing. A daily headache that does not respond to any type of migraine med probably isnt just a migraine. He started me on meds for lupus and i'm just hoping it works. Because i have tried alot of meds like beta blocker, anti-depressant, herbal supplements, botox, all kinds of pain meds and still headache every day. I suggest all of you look at all of your symptoms and keep track. For all of us to be in pain everyday and not living a full life is not healthy either. I pushed every one of my doctors for more testing, if they would not i would dump them and find another one. I sincerely hope you all find relief. Stay strong!!

Since my last post, i went an saw a new doctor. I was hoping for some new meds that actually work. But instead got told I probably have lupus. He stated that since the normal meds for migraine do not work and i get a headached everyday that its possibly more than a migraine. I went to the specialist and he did some work up and basically told me the same thing. A daily headache that does not respond to any type of migraine med probably isnt just a migraine. He started me on meds for lupus and i'm just hoping it works. Because i have tried alot of meds like beta blocker, anti-depressant, herbal supplements, botox, all kinds of pain meds and still headache every day. I suggest all of you look at all of your symptoms and keep track. For all of us to be in pain everyday and not living a full life is not healthy either. I pushed every one of my doctors for more testing, if they would not i would dump them and find another one. I sincerely hope you all find relief. Stay strong!!

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